Abducted Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin. Photo: Channel 2.

JNS.org– The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday declared 23-year-old Lt. Hadar Goldin, who on Friday was feared to have been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, to be dead.

“A special IDF committee has determined that Lt. Hadar Goldin was killed in combat in Gaza on Friday,” the IDF Spokesman’s Unit said. “We join Lt. Goldin’s family in mourning their loss and will continue to support them during the grieving period.”

Goldin was a relative of Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon.

“The late Hadar Goldin is my family member,” Ya’alon wrote Sunday on Twitter. “I have known him since he was born. He and the other IDF soldiers who fell fought to restore calm and security to Israel. I extend a hug to the families.”